In the original novel, the Bucket's House was a small house composed of two rooms. Charlie's old grandparents slept on the only bed in the house in one room, and were far too tired to exit from the bed. Charlie, Mr. Bucket and Mrs. Bucket all slept on mattresses in the only other room. It is possible there is no kitchen in the house, and that the laundry was hand-done.

In the 1971 film, the Bucket's house has a black-and-white television set. Unlike the original novel, Mrs. Bucket whose husband passed away has her own bed. Because the Bucket grandparents are using the same bed, Charlie has the sleep on the floor mat.